Garret Freymann-Weyr, Stay with Me
There is absolutely no reason this book should be one of my
favourites. It's a YA novel about an exceptionally privileged daughter of an
exceptional family, the kind of people I would not know in my real life. But
this book is written sensitively and beautifully, and tackles issues not commonly
discussed in this genre.
After Leila's sister kills herself, Leila tries to heal from
the loss. Her healing is complicated by the unique way she perceives the world
because of a learning disability. Leila eventually begins a relationship with
someone significantly older than herself, a troubling decision for some people
around her (and for many readers). Through this journey, she discovers more
about who she is, why people leave us, why love matters, and how she can go on. I found it a
poignant, touching story.
Garret Freymann-Weyr writes YA novels about subjects and
from perspectives that most of us don't consider; I think this point is one of
the reasons I like Stay with Me. Another reviewer describes the book as "challenging,
strange, intelligent" and these words too explain why I was so deeply
moved by it. This book may sneak up on you; trust it, let it reveal itself to
you, and you may enjoy the experience as much as I did.
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